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Perhaps it was because he was exhausted from walking for such a long time, and could no longer think straight. But whatever the case, Leafpaw couldn't quite make sense of where he was, or what he was seeing.
In front of him, the ground had opened up into a wide valley with a rushing river cutting through the bottom. And the path he was on seemed to levitate over it to the other side, with strange-looking structures rising up on either side, their patterned framework reminding Leafpaw of cobwebs.
Was it some sort of strange magic? Or perhaps StarClan themselves were holding up the path? Would it even stay up when he walked on it?
No time to ask questions...I'm on a mission.
Mustering up his courage, Leafpaw stepped forward, onto the floating stretch of the path.
But after only a few steps, his legs started to shake, the height of the path ahead sending chills of fear through his body.
Why...Why am I so frightened? This isn't too dangerous...Just have to walk on over to the other side...There's no way anything bad can happen if I just focus...
His inner warrior coaxing him forward, Leafpaw took a deep breath and continued along the path.
One paw in front of the other...Nothing to be scared of...
Soon, Leafpaw had made it about halfway across the floating path, when he finally decided to stop and rest his legs for a short while.
I probably still have a long way to go, after all...How far away am I from camp, anyway? I've never seen this valley bef-
His thoughts stopped mid-sentence, as Leafpaw looked to his side and was taken aback by the sight of the marvelous scenery that he now towered over.
The valley seemed to stretch on forever, fading to a mere blur in the distance; the numerous conifers sharply contrasting the bare trees that had yet to flourish. The river weaved it's way through the bottom, like a line drawn by a claw through the sand. Above it all, the sun hovered low in the sky, extending its warm welcome to the vast lands below.
This...This is incredible!...I bet no cat in the Clan has ever seen anything half as amazing as this!
Leafpaw continued to sit where he was, frozen in awe. It felt as if he were reliving the day he first left the nursery, all over again. The sight was almost enough to make him forget his mission altogether.
He was so captivated by the spectacular scene that it took him a while to notice that the path had begun to tremble underneath him.
Huh? What's happening? Is the path going to fall? I'd better start moving again, then...
Leafpaw rose to his paws once more to continue his quest...but instinctively stopped after a few steps.
Something isn't right...
It was then that he heard a low, ominous rumbling noise coming from behind him, and it was getting distinctively louder...
And then, he heard something else.
"Leafpaw!"
Wait...That sounded like...Did she track me all the way out here...?
He finally turned around to see what was happening...and immediately tensed up with horror.
An enormous monster, looming as tall as the trees themselves, was travelling down the path, straight towards him.
And in front of the terrible monstrosity, dwarfed by comparison, was his mother, running faster than Leafpaw ever thought possible for a cat.
Wh...What is she doing? The monster is going to kill her...It's going to kill both of us! What do I do? What do I do?!
Leafpaw couldn't move his body. Fear had ensnared him like a tangle of thorns. He only watched as the monster continued to chase down his mother like a rabbit, getting closer and closer with every heartbeat. And still, Shadepelt continued to run, pushing herself to her limits.
This is my fault...I was so foolish to think that I could do this on my own...We're both going to die because of my terrible choices...StarClan, forgive me...
The roar of the monster was deafening, it's glowing eye seemed to fix its gaze on both cats as it reached the floating stretch of path, with no sign of slowing down.
Leafpaw's eyes closed, and he braced himself for the inevitable death that approached.
But instead, he felt teeth clamp down on the back of his neck as Shadepelt snagged him in her mouth.
And just before the monster was about to hit them, she summoned up her last bit of strength, and leapt off the edge of the path.
And they fell, down into the cold, unforgiving waters below.
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